I also wonder about my family name (Rumreich) - it seems more German than Czech, although I know that my ancestors considered themselves Czech. (They were born in Ivancice, and their ancestors in Nemcice.)

Would there have been some good reason to Germanicize one's name at that time?

> I also wonder about my family name (Rumreich) - it seems more German than Czech, > although I know that my ancestors considered themselves Czech. (They were born in > Ivancice, and their ancestors in Nemcice.)

>

> Would there have been some good reason to Germanicize one's name at that time?

The border between Moravia and Lower Austria lies about 35km due south

of Ivancice on the river Dyje (Thaya), at the town of Laa a.d. Thaya

where it has been since the first maps of the region were drawn.

The map of the region I have, (copy of 1790 edition) shows Ivancice as

Eybenschitz and Nemcice (surprisingly) as Nemschitz (one would have

expected Deutschdorf)Despite its proximity to Brno (Bruenn),

Ivancice fell administratively into the County of Znojmo (Znaim).

>I also wonder about my family name (Rumreich) - it seems more German than Czech, >although I know that my ancestors considered themselves Czech. (They were born in >Ivancice, and their ancestors in Nemcice.)

>Would there have been some good reason to Germanicize one's name at that time?

Yes, there would.German was an official language. There were a lot

of intermarriages between the Moravians and Austrians.Consequently,

German family names are still not uncommon. Many young Moravians from

that region would go to Austria, particularly the region in and around

Vienna to look for work.

In addition, some people changed their family names to make them sound

more German, especially if they were working (or hoping to) in

government service.

Similarly, after 1945 when anything German became definitely out of

fashion, many families, voluntarily or not, had their names changed to